Pie’s youth workers – Connor, Jeff and Luis – cycled over 250 miles from coast-to-coast, Portishead to Ramsgate, in 5 days from 5th to 9th June 2025 to raise funds for us and awareness of the need for dedicated spaces for young people to go to.
They visited youth clubs along the way, in Bradford-on-Avon and Newbury, meeting fellow youth workers and flying the flag for youth work. Every turn of the pedals aimed to get us closer to saving Ramsgate Youth Centre, which is being put up for commercial sale by Kent County Council, highlighting the urgent and important need for investment in youth work in Thanet.
The clock is ticking to save the youth centre. Having had two bids to buy the building rejected by the council, we are doing everything we can to have the decision to dispose of it reconsidered by the new administration in the hope that it can be saved for future generations of young people in Ramsgate and beyond.
Donate at www.justgiving.com/page/piecycle-challenge and watch the Piecycle highlights in the video below.
The ‘Piecycle Challenge’ brought the fight to save the youth centre to life with each turn of the bicycle pedals. The challenge ended with a celebratory homecoming party at Ramsgate Youth Centre where our Piecyclists were met on their return by our community and young people, with live music, food, drink and much-needed leg massages!
Thank you for your donations – they went a long way to fuel them during the ride and support Thanet’s young people in the future.
Over 1,000 young people attend Pie annually on average with participants describing the youth centre as a “safe haven”, their “second home” and a place to “make a fresh start”, “make friends” and “find freedom”. Without this space, the charity’s current provision of positive and diversionary activities and creative opportunities for young people will significantly decrease or stop, as they will be made to find alternative premises.
Connor, Jeff and Luis say:
“We live and breathe bikes, running Pie’s Bike Project initiative that equips young people with the skills and independence to ride, fix and maintain bicycles. It’s been a tough fight to save our youth centre, so with summer on the horizon, we’re channelling our passion into action. We’ve been pushing our limits, training hard, and are ready to take on some mega pedal power to raise £2,000 and awareness of our cause. We know times are tough for many, but anything you can give to offer the young people of Thanet hope right now is so appreciated.”
Regular Pie participants, Luke and Jacob chatted with Connor and Jeff to find out more about the Piecycle Challenge, why they want to do it, what they’re looking forward to and how training is going so far. Watch the film below.